Next up, we have Lucerne – about an hour train ride south of Zurich. I felt like there was plenty to see despite the town not being too big, and it was cool to stroll around Altstadt (Old Town).
This was also my first time staying in Airbnbs that shared the same living space as the owners I booked with. In the evenings, I enjoyed hanging out in their living rooms, talking to them and sharing stories and experiences with each other. I’m grateful that the host families I stayed with were so welcoming and friendly.
Not too far from Lucerne is Pilatus Kulm, which you can reach the bottom of with a short train ride from Lucerne. Similar to the Gratwanderweg Stoos, you can go up and down from two different sides of the mountain – with one side using the cogwheel train (Alpnachstad) and the other side using a cable car (Kriens).
Once you get to the top, there isn’t much hiking from what I remember. There are a handful of viewpoints to check out, tables to eat at, food and souvenirs to purchase, and a nice hotel! You’ll have magnificent views all around, such as Lake Lucerne and Mount Rigi to the east, and the Bernese Alps to the south.
Wondering and Wandering 